Pray for the Nations – Week 6 Belize & Dominican Republic

Geography

A Caribbean coastal enclave bordering Guatemala and Mexico. It has the world’s second-largest coral barrier reef.

Population: 312,928 Annual Growth: 2.08%

Capital: Belmopan

Official language: English. Spanish spoken by the majority of the population

Largest Religion: Christian

Challenges for Prayer

Pray for the Meissners as they serve in Belize. Pray for safety and sustenance as they travel around the United States for their pre-deployment support-raising efforts. Please pray that the support they need is received. Ask God to give them strength as they make their many transitions. Pray the hearts and minds of the Belizean people are prepared to receive God’s Word.

HIV/AIDS is a serious threat. The 2.4% (and rising) infection rate is the highest in Central America. He Intends Victory and Lighthouse Christian Radio both serve to educate, prevent and minister on this issue and to those who suffer.

Many mission trips focus on this small nation. Much medical and literacy work is positive, but their constant presence creates reliance on foreign believers and not the national Church. Pray for fruitful partnerships where everyone can contribute for Kingdom purposes.

The less-reached peoples include the Garifuna, Mayans, Chinese, and Indians. Pray for clearer and more culturally thoughtful ministries.

Dominican Republic, Caribbean

Rev. Todd & Rebecca Krey

Regional Director

Geography

Area: 48,443 sq km

The eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, shared with Haiti.

Population: 10,225,482 Annual Growth: 1.41%

Capital: Santo Domingo

Official language: Spanish

Largest Religion: Christian 9,647,742 Evangelicals 931,234

Challenges for Prayer

The Kreys ask, “Pray for our new Dominican brothers and sisters in Christ, as men are formed to establish Word and Sacrament communities and women are formed as deaconesses. Currently, the Dominican Lutheran church consists of 300 baptized and confirmed members in the entire country. Pray for us as we work in different parts of the country and this region, seeking to teach those who will respond to hearing the Gospel.” Please ask the Lord of the harvest to call more men and women in service to Him.

Prayer Requests from LCMS Missions in Dominican Republic:

For Mount Horeb Medical Clinic and Amigos de Cristo Lutheran Church in Las Americas.

For Concordia Lutheran School in Palmar Arriba and Concordia Lutheran Preschool in Licey, and staff.

For our seminarians, vicars, and deaconate and their studies

For our Foundation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Homes, our group home and the children.

For Christ-centered preaching.

For our mission team and all new missionaries preparing to serve in Latin America.

Jennie Johnson, RN-BC, Ph.D., parish nurse at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum, Idaho, will present helpful information on the current understanding of how heart attacks and strokes develop and the connection with dementia during the February video lecture for parish nurses.

The LCMS Recognized Service Organizations newsletter for First Quarter 2018 features the Wollaston Senior Center in Quincy, Mass. This organization continues to bless and serve Asian senior citizens and their families.

In the December 2017 issue of StewardCAST, LCMS Stewardship Ministry talks about how pastors and the church are called to deal with the scars of the failed stewardship of Christian stewards. Both Law and Gospel should be applied in these situations.

The First Quarter 2018 newsletter from the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces shares insight about the meaning of the Latin phrase Sola Scriptura (“Scripture Alone”) and how it can be applied to our lives when we are facing joys and challenges.

Listen to Worldwide KFUO’s December’s Free to be Faithful® program as moderator Kip Allen and guest Tim Goeglein, vice president of external relations for Focus on the Family, discussed the implications of the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision, developments concerning transgenders in the military and other religious freedom lawsuits.

This issue of Reaching Rural America for Christ discusses the importance of the servant leadership role of the pastor in a rural and small-town congregation. The newsletter also includes practical suggestions for how pastors can use the talents and abilities that God has given them to influence the individuals and groups they shepherd.